Start solo. No experience needed.
Ballroom, Latin and social dance lessons for grown-ups at Dance With Me Stamford, 20 Summer Street — about ten minutes' walk from Stamford Station. Come alone or as a couple: start with a $49 intro that includes a private lesson, then join group classes and social parties.
Adult dance classes at Dance With Me Stamford are partner-dance lessons for grown-ups — ballroom, Latin and social styles such as salsa, bachata, swing and waltz — taught at 20 Summer Street in downtown Stamford. You can start alone and with no experience: partners rotate in group classes, and new students begin with a $49 intro that includes a private lesson.
Dance With Me Stamford has taught adults to dance on Summer Street since 2012, and many of our students walked in with no experience and no partner. In group classes partners rotate, so you dance with everyone; in private lessons you dance with your instructor. Nobody is left standing at the wall.
Start with a $49 intro — a private lesson plus a group class or a social party — ten minutes' walk from Stamford Station. It's the same first step whether you're 25 or 75, coming straight off the train or bringing a partner for date night, at our Stamford dance studio.
Group class · Summer Street
| Who it's for | Adults of any age — complete beginners, returning dancers, couples and solo students |
|---|---|
| Styles | Ballroom, Latin and social: salsa, bachata, East Coast swing, hustle, waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba and cha-cha |
| Formats | Private lessons, a monthly lineup of evening group classes, and social dance parties |
| Partner required | No. Partners rotate in group classes; in a private lesson your instructor dances with you |
| When | Group classes on weekday evenings; private lessons Monday–Saturday from 1 PM |
| Where | 20 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06901 — about a 10-minute walk from Stamford Station |
| After the intro | Group classes $30 · practice parties $20 · private lessons $123–$155 · $199 Social Membership |
| Start from | $49 — a private lesson plus a group class or a social party, solo or with a partner |
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"I joined with no dance experience, looking for a new hobby and a way to build confidence."
"The atmosphere is so fun and welcoming and all of the instructors and staff are amazing."
"I have been taking dance lessons at this studio for over seven years now, and Masha and Sasha have helped me transform from a beginner to an experienced ballroom dancer."
Read them all on the Dance With Me Stamford Google profile.
The most common student we teach. Every first lesson starts with rhythm, posture and one basic step before any pattern, and nobody is expected to know how to lead or follow. Feeling uncoordinated in week one is normal, and it passes.
You don't need one. In group classes partners rotate every few minutes, so you dance with the whole room; in private lessons your instructor is your partner.
One of the most common reasons couples book with us. Lessons teach the two of you to lead and follow each other, so it works at a wedding, a gala or a night out — and it's fine if one of you is keener than the other.
No. Partner dancing is built for adults of every age, and the pace is set by you. If you danced years ago, your instructor finds where you left off. Some of our students have gone on from here to showcases and national competition.
Where the classes lead
One honest note: we're a partner-dance studio — ballroom, Latin and social. If you're looking for adult ballet or hip hop classes, we don't teach those as programs.
The fastest way to improve, and the easiest way to start if you're shy. One instructor, your goals, your pace — any style, from a salsa basic to a wedding first dance. Booked Monday to Saturday from 1 PM, so a lunchtime lesson works if you work downtown. Your $49 intro includes one.
Each month we pick a fresh set of evening group classes — social partner dancing, Latin and more — at beginner and beginner-intermediate levels. Partners rotate, so you'll dance with a dozen people in an hour, and coming alone is the norm. $30 a class.
Where the classes turn into dancing. Music for every level, instructors on the floor asking students to dance, and a room full of people who started the way you're starting. Your intro can include an invitation to the next one. $20 a party.
Dinner on Summer Street, then a lesson — or the other way round. Couples lessons teach two partners to lead and follow each other, not just the instructor. Planning a wedding? See our wedding dance lessons.
For the students who catch the bug. Our Stamford leads have taken adults from a first lesson all the way to national competition, with American and International ballroom and Latin styles and visiting coaches. Nobody is steered here — it's there if you want it.
The quickest way to judge a teacher of adult beginners isn't a credential list — it's what students who had never danced say afterwards. So that's what these cards carry: the studio's own description of each person, and the words of the people they taught. Dance With Me was founded by Maksim and Valentin Chmerkovskiy of Dancing With The Stars; these are the people who teach you on Summer Street.
Studio Manager
Manages the Summer Street studio and its team. Questions about programs, this month’s classes or your $49 intro? Call or text the studio at 203.674.8100 and the Stamford team will help you pick a starting point.
Lead Instructor
One of the two instructors who lead the teaching floor on Summer Street. Between them, the leads have taken students from a first lesson all the way to national competition.
“My wife and I took about 7 or 8 dance lessons with Masha (who was great!) in June 2024, leading up to our wedding in early July.” Sarah Fabian · Google review
Lead Instructor
The other half of the teaching floor. One seven-year student credits both leads with turning a complete beginner into an experienced ballroom dancer, one lesson at a time.
“I have been taking dance lessons at this studio for over seven years now, and Masha and Sasha have helped me transform from a beginner to an experienced ballroom dancer.” Anshuman Fotedar · Google review
Dance Instructor
The instructor students name for building a routine around what they actually want — listening first, then choreographing to it.
“Monica walked us through the choreography, asked us questions, listened to our feedback, and incorporated all of our ‘wish-list’ items into the dance.” Paulina Gerner · Google review
Dance Instructor
Named by students for patience with nervous first-timers — the quality that matters most in an adult beginner’s first month.
“He was patient, encouraging, and tailored every step to our comfort level…” Sonia Parekh · Google review
Full profiles and portraits for the Stamford team are being added. Ask for any instructor by name when you book, or meet the team at your intro lesson.
Meet the full team on the Dance With Me Stamford studio page.
Adult dance classes at Dance With Me Stamford start with a $49 intro — a private lesson plus a group class or a social party. After that, group classes are $30, practice parties $20, and private lessons $123–$155 depending on your program. A $199 Social Membership covers unlimited group classes and parties. Full terms are on our pricing and policy page.
| Format | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| New student intro | Your first lesson — private lesson plus a class or party | $49 |
| Private lesson | Fastest progress, shy starters, couples, weddings | $123–$155 |
| Group class | Meeting people, steady weekly practice | $30 |
| Practice party | Trying your steps socially, low pressure | $20 |
| Social Membership | Unlimited group classes and parties | $199 |
You don't need dance shoes to start — smooth-soled shoes are fine for your intro.
Most adults feel comfortable leading or following a basic step within three to five lessons, and are ready to enjoy a social party in about six to eight weeks. Here's how that first month usually goes.
One student · One instructor
About a ten-minute walk from Stamford Station, or park in the Summer Street Garage. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in and smooth-soled shoes — no dance shoes needed yet.
A new hobby, a date night, a wedding coming up, or getting back to something you used to love — each starts in a different place, so your instructor asks first.
Rhythm and posture first, then a basic step in one or two dances. By the end you're moving to real music with a partner — your instructor.
The second half of your $49 intro. Partners rotate, so you dance with lots of people at your level — the moment most students realise they can actually do this.
With a mix of private lessons and group classes, the basic step stops needing thought somewhere between lesson three and lesson five.
You know two or three dances well enough to say yes when someone asks. Some people take the intro and stop there — that's a normal outcome and nobody chases you about it.
The best dance for an adult beginner is the one that matches why you want to dance. For nights out, start with salsa or bachata; for weddings and galas, waltz and foxtrot; for energy and fun, East Coast swing or hustle. Rumba and cha-cha build the technique competitors use. At Dance With Me Stamford your instructor helps you choose at your intro.
Same first lesson · Any style
The dances you'll actually see on a Latin night. Bachata is a gentle four-count step you can dance by the end of one lesson; salsa is quicker, with more turns, and rewards a few weeks of practice. Both rotate through our monthly Latin group classes. Our guide to salsa versus bachata settles which to try first.
Travelling dances in a closed hold — the ones that look best in a ballroom and in photographs. Foxtrot fits the standards a band plays at a black-tie event; waltz fits anything in three-four time. A good choice if you like structure and posture, and the core of American Smooth.
East Coast swing is bouncy, forgiving and works to rock 'n' roll, Motown and modern pop. Hustle is the disco-era partner dance that still fills New York-area dance floors. Both are quick to pick up and hard to dance without smiling.
Hip action, timing and connection — the technique that makes every other dance look better. Rumba and cha-cha are the backbone of American Rhythm and International Latin, the styles our Stamford students take to showcases and competition. See every style in our guide to types of dances.
| Style group | Best for | Feel | Music | Learning curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salsa & Bachata | Nights out, meeting people | Flirty, social, lots of turns | Latin pop, salsa, bachata | Bachata easiest; salsa a few weeks |
| Waltz & Foxtrot | Weddings, galas, elegance | Smooth, travelling, closed hold | Standards, ballads, 3/4 time | Gentle start, deep to master |
| Swing & Hustle | Energy, fun, any party | Bouncy, playful | Motown, rock 'n' roll, disco, pop | Quick to pick up |
| Rumba & Cha-Cha | Technique, showcases, competition | Sensual, rhythmic, precise | Latin, R&B, pop | Steady — pays off in every dance |
"Adults learn fastest when they mix one private lesson with one group class a week. The private fixes what you can't feel yourself; the group class gives you twenty different partners to try it on."Dance With Me StamfordInstruction team · Summer Street
Still deciding? Our beginner's guide to how to choose your first dance style goes deeper.
Each month we pick a fresh set of evening group classes, so there's always something new to try and nothing to "fall behind" in. Recent months have included a social partner-dancing class for beginners, a beginner-intermediate social class and Latin classes — on weekday evenings, timed for after work. Because the lineup rolls each month, we point you to this month's calendar rather than print a day here that might be out of date.
| Private lesson | Monday to Saturday from 1 PM — booked around you, including lunchtimes and Saturdays |
|---|---|
| Beginner group classes | Weekday evenings on this month's calendar — social partner dancing, Latin and more, partners rotating |
| Beginner-intermediate classes | For students a few weeks in, on the same evening lineup |
| Social dance party | On the monthly calendar — every level, instructors on the floor, $20 |
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This month's classes and times are on the Dance With Me Stamford class schedule, or call or text 203.674.8100 and we'll tell you which class to start with.
Three short tutorials from the Dance With Me team. Watch one tonight and your first class starts a step ahead.
Group classes are where you meet people; private lessons are where you improve fastest. Most adults who stick with dancing end up doing a bit of both — and the $49 intro is built that way on purpose, so you try each before you decide anything.
| Format | Best for | Partner | Price | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group class | Meeting people, steady practice, budget | Rotates in class | $30, or unlimited with the $199 membership | Monthly evening lineup |
| Private lesson | Fast progress, weddings, shy starters | Your instructor | $123–$155 | Booked around you, from 1 PM |
| Social party | Using what you've learned, low pressure | Everyone in the room | $20 | On the monthly calendar |
| Private + group | Most adults' fastest route | Both | Start with the $49 intro | One of each a week |
Why both? Partner dancing is lead-and-follow, and the quickest way to learn either side is to dance with someone who does it perfectly and can tell you exactly what they felt — that's the private lesson. The group class then gives you what a private can't: lots of different partners, which is what a real dance floor feels like. Read more about group dance classes, private dance lessons and social dance parties.
They're the two dances adult beginners ask about most, and most people end up learning both. The difference is the count: salsa is quick-quick-slow over eight beats and travels in a slot with a lot of turns; bachata is a four-count step with a tap or hip on the fourth beat, closer and slower to start.
Our honest advice: start with whichever song made you want to dance. If you want turns and energy, start with salsa. If you want something you can dance by the end of one lesson, bachata is gentler — then add salsa. You can mix both in private lessons, and both turn up in our monthly Latin group classes. More in our guide to salsa versus bachata.
From the Dance With Me team. More short tutorials on our YouTube channel.
Dance With Me Stamford is at 20 Summer Street, in the middle of downtown and about a ten-minute walk from Stamford Station. That's why so many students book the hour straight after the Metro-North home: step off the train, dance, and still be back for dinner. Summer Street's restaurants make it an easy date night — dinner first, lesson after, or the other way round.
Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside and Darien are a short run down the Post Road or I-95; New Canaan, Norwalk and Westport are fifteen to twenty minutes. From Rye or Port Chester, we're closer than most of what's on your side of the state line. Running late? Call — we'd rather hold your slot than have you rush.
The full team, this month's group calendar and every style we teach: our Stamford dance studio.
Dance With Me was founded by Maksim and Valentin Chmerkovskiy of Dancing With The Stars, with Tony Dovolani. That's a nice sentence, and it isn't the reason to book. It's the reason the standard of teaching is what it is: your instructor is coached to it, then points it at one thing — you feeling at home on a dance floor.
Many dance studios teach children first and fit adults in around them. We're the other way round: an adult partner-dance studio, on a full ballroom floor at 20 Summer Street.
We opened on April 16, 2012 — the longest-running studio in the Dance With Me network — and a year later Mayor Michael Pavia proclaimed April 16, 2013 "Dance With Me Stamford Day."
Ballroom, Latin and social dancing from absolute beginner to competitive, taught by instructors who've taken students from a first lesson to national competition.
No partner needed, ever. Partners rotate in every group class, and social parties give you a room full of people at your level to dance with.
Every rate is published on this page, and your intro comes with no commitment — you get a plan and a price before you decide anything.
At Dance With Me Stamford new adults start with a $49 intro: a private lesson plus a group class or a social party. After that, group classes are $30, practice parties are $20 and private lessons are $123–$155 depending on the program. A $199 Social Membership covers unlimited group classes and parties.
A private lesson with one of our instructors at 20 Summer Street, plus either a group class or an invitation to the next social dance party. You learn rhythm, posture and your first steps, and your instructor suggests a plan once they have seen you dance. It can be taken solo or with a partner, with no commitment.
No. Most adults who start at Dance With Me Stamford come on their own. In group classes and social parties partners rotate every few minutes, so you dance with everyone in the room, and in a private lesson your instructor is your partner. Couples are always welcome too.
The one that matches why you want to dance. Bachata and salsa suit nights out, waltz and foxtrot suit weddings and galas, and East Coast swing and hustle are quick, energetic and easy to pick up. Rumba and cha-cha build competition technique. Your instructor helps you choose at your intro.
No. Partner dancing is built for adults of every age and there is no upper age limit. Lessons are paced to you, and in a private lesson nobody is watching but your instructor. If you danced years ago, your instructor picks up where you left off.
Most people feel comfortable leading or following a basic step within three to five lessons, and are ready to enjoy a social party in about six to eight weeks. Mixing one private lesson with one group class a week is the fastest route.
Comfortable clothes you can move in and smooth-soled shoes. Leather-soled dress shoes work well; avoid rubber-soled sneakers, which grip the floor and make turns harder. You don't need dance shoes to start — most students buy a pair once they're hooked.
Each month we pick a fresh set of group classes, held on weekday evenings after work at beginner and beginner-intermediate levels. This month's lineup is on the Dance With Me Stamford class schedule, or call or text 203.674.8100. Private lessons are booked around your schedule, Monday to Saturday from 1 PM.
Yes. Private lessons run throughout the day from 1 PM, which suits people working downtown, and Saturdays from 1 to 8 PM. We also run group lessons, choreography and dance entertainment for corporate events and team outings.
No. Dance With Me Stamford is a partner-dance studio: ballroom, Latin and social dancing such as salsa, bachata, swing, waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba and cha-cha. If you want a style you can dance with another person at a party, a wedding or a night out, that is exactly what we teach.
Dance With Me Stamford is at 20 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06901, about a 10-minute walk from Stamford Station. The City of Stamford Summer Street Garage is a short walk away, and street meters are free after 8 PM and on Sundays. We're open Monday to Saturday, 1 PM to 8 PM; closed Sunday.
Yes. It's one of the most common reasons couples book with us. A couples lesson teaches you to lead and follow each other, it pairs easily with dinner on Summer Street, and you leave with something you can dance at the next wedding or gala.
Your intro starts with a private lesson — just you (or the two of you) and an instructor on Summer Street — then a group class or a social party to try it with other people. You'll leave dancing, and with a straight answer about what to do next.
You dance. That's the whole appointment.
You'll get a specific program price before you decide anything.
Either works. Partners rotate in every group class, so nobody sits out.
203.674.8100 — call or text, Monday to Saturday, 1 PM – 8 PM.
Call or text the studio and we'll book your private lesson and your first class or party.
Monday to Saturday, 1 PM – 8 PM.
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